Shuttle drive



April 1968 A. MOESSINGER 3,378,041

SHUTTLE DRIVE.

Filed Oct. 22, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 E Q.) E 0 U 2 2 a \ime Q11- ar-'------------e 0) i m m: linzm T D- l m rfi I I Ff INVENTOR 7 Albert Moessmger ATTORNEYS April 6, 1968 A. MOESSINGER 3,378,041

SHUTTLE DRIVE Filed Oct. 22, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 a i .Z 7- J 38 35 57 9 26 2e %2 54 35 -400 42 wt 5 *IIIIB INVENTOR Albert Moess/hger ATTORNEYS April 1968 A. MOESSINGER 3,378,041

SHUTTLE DRIVE Filed Oct. 22, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR A/berf Moessmger ATTORNEYS April 16, 1968 A. MOESSINGER SHUTTLE DRI VB 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 k Husk INVENTOR ALBERT MOESS/NGER ATTORNEY United States Patent 0 3,378,941 SHUTTLE DRIVE Albert Moessinger, 1066 Epaiinges, Switzerland Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 500,563 Claims priority, application Switzerland, May 28, 1965, 7,570/65 12 Claims. (Cl. 139-425) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A loom wherein means are provided for controlling the speed of the shuttle as it is reciprocated along its closed circuit or path in order to compensate for variations in the speed of the shuttle.

The present invention relates to a Weaving loom provided with a bobbin in which the weft is mounted in a shuttle which travels in a reciprocating movement through the shed formed by the warp threads during the weaving operation.

The present invention further relates to a weaving apparatus in which the shuttle that passes through the shed, travels along a closed path or circuit of travel.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided for controlling the speed of the shuttle as it is reciprocated along its closed circuit or path in order to compensate for the variations in speed of the shuttle, which commonly occur in conventional machines used heretofore. Such variations are cause by a slowdown of the travelling shuttle produced by variations in the frictional tension of the thread during its passage through the shed. Up to the present time it has been found necessary to completely stop the shuttle and take appropriate steps in order to make sure that the shuttle passes through the shed at the proper speed, should there be any variations in the normal or desired speed that the shuttle normally takes in passing through the shed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for carrying or passing a shuttle through a closed continuous circuit in which means are provided for varying the speed of the shuttle during its cycle, in accordance with a predetermined speed desired.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shuttle system for a weaving machine in which the shuttle can be ejected from a part of the system at one speed and have its speed changed in another part of the system to a predetermined desired speed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a weaving machine having closed continuous path shuttle circuit in which the shuttle can have its speed varied at diiferent points in the system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a closed circuit shuttle system formed of two substantially straight or rectilinear parts and two arcuate or curved parts with the shuttle being positively propelled at a predetermined speed in the curved parts of the system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shuttle system in a weaving loom in which the speed of the shuttle can be varied in the arcuate parts thereof to compensate for any variation in the speed of the shuttle during its passage through the shed and through the linear or straight portion of the system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shuttle that can be passed through a weaving loom, and particularly the shed of the loom, at any predetermined desired speed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a closed continuous travel path for a shuttle of a weaving loom in which the shuttle is held upon a moving surface "ice or face of a curvilinear part with such force that the shuttle is carried by frictional engagement with the surface and at the speed that this part is moving.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shuttle that is passed in a reciprocating movement through a continuous closed circuit in which the shuttle is held at certain parts of the circuit by centrifugal force.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shuttle that is passed in a reciprocating movement action through a predetermined path and in which the shuttle is held upon curved portions of the apparatus by a magnetic field.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shuttle carrying system in which a shuttle is passed in a closed circuit in one direction, and in which the speed of the shuttle may be varied so that it moves at a predetermined speed which speed is controlled by elliptical gear means.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shuttle carrying system provided with planetary gear means which vary the speed of arcuate parts of the system, and which also permit the arcuate part to have its movement or speed varied.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shuttle carying apparatus consisting of a closed path of travel for a shuttle formed of at least two straight parallel portions and two curved arcuate portions in which the shuttle is propelled adjacent the curved or arcuate portion and in which the speed of the shuttle can be varied at either arcuate portion so as to speed up its travel or slow down its travel, or in other words to vary the speed of the shuttle, so as to pass it through the shed of a weaving loom at a predetermined speed.

Various other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagram illustrating variations in the time and displacement of a shuttle as it passes through its closed circuit, and illustrating the theoretical optimum speed desired of the shuttle as it passes through the weaving loom;

FIGURE 2 is also a diagram illustrating variations in the speed of the shuttle carrying system plotted against time as it passes through a loom;

FIGURE 3 is a view of the closed continuous path of travel of a shuttle and the means for varying the speed of the shuttle, embodied in the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of FIGURE 3, but also including the driving means for the shuttle carrying system;

FIGURE 5 is a modified embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 4, and

FIGURE 6 is a detail view taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURES 3 and 7 represent a loom, the gripper shuttle of which circulates without any stop in a closed circuit.

In FIGURES 3 and 7, the closed circuit is represented by the two semi-circular channels 53, the return channel 56 and the shed 57 in which the shuttles 52 and 54 lay down the weft threads in succession as they are drawn from fixed packages.

The shed 57 is formed by the warp threads 29 and 31 brought together in the fell of the cloth 33 and by the reed 37. The warp threads are driven according to the usual method by frames 37 actuated by cam 39 fixed on the shaft 289, the elbowed levers 41, the rods 43 and the springs 45. The shaft 289 is connected to a main shaft 67 through gears drawn from a warping beam 47 by passing on a roller 49 and by the crossing rods 51 which separate the threads in the usual method. The manufacturcd cloth 33 passes on a driving roller 53 to be wound on a cloth beam 55.

The reed 35 is actuated by the levers 57 fixed on a shaft 59 swinging round its axis by the motion of a double lever 61 provided at each one of its extremities and working on a double cam 63 giving the reed the required motion. The cams 63 are fixed on the main shaft 67 of the weaving machine. This shaft 67 is driven by a pulley which is driven by an electrical motor, not shown. A braking drum, not shown, is also provided on this shaft to stop the weaving machine.

The shears locate at each side of the shed are formed in one part by a knife 75 fixed on a fixed axis 77 and a pin 79, and in another part by a movable knife 81 which pivots around the axis 77. When the thread is tightened into the cloth, the leg of the reed 35 or the slay on which it is fixed presses the boss 33 of the movable knife 81, closes the shears and cuts the thread coming out of the shed. When the reed comes back, the shears are again opened by the spring 85 which leans on a fixed part 87.

The shuttle may be arrested in the channel 56 or in the shed 57. It will then be necessary to push it up to the carrying column before starting again. For that purpose, openings 101 and 103 are provided through which a body pushing the shuttle into the next curvilinear part can be introduced.

Referring to the diagrams shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the length of the abscissa between 0 and 1, and between 1 and 2, represents the time necessary for a complete cycle of the machine for the introduction of one weft in the shed. The slant of the curve represents the movement of the shuttle and indicates its speed. The length of the ordinates between 0 and 3 and between 6 and 9 represents the axle distance between the two shuttle carrying drums, from G to 3 being the length or distance of the free travel of the shuttle when the shuttle goes or passes through the shed, and from 6 to 9 being the length of its free travel when the shuttle goes through the return channel or leg of the circuit. The lengths of the ordinates between 3 and 6, and between 9 and 0' represents the half-circumference of the carrying drums, from 3 to 6 being the carrying drum of the reception of the shuttle after its passage through the shed, and 9 to 0 being the ejection carrying drum, ejecting the shuttle in the shed at a predetermined speed.

The line 12 represents the movement of a shuttle without friction, i.e., with continuous movement, constant speed A, and therefore represented by a straight line. This shuttle arrives upon the reception drum point 4 and is carried at the speed of this drum. The shuttle arrives at the entrance of the return channel at 7 and will be ejected in this channel at the speed B (FIG. 2) that this drum will have at this moment. This speed B is chosen so that the shuttle arrives upon the drum of ejection at 11 (line 16). The shuttle, being slowed down by the friction of the thread, will lose speed while passing through the shed, and for the maximum allowable slow-down, the movement of the shuttle is represented by the line 13. This slowed down shuttle will arrive on the reception drum at 5. The distance 4-5 represents the time of maximum spread time allowed in the construction of the machine for the arrival of the shuttle upon the reception drum.

The shuttle taken by this drum is ejected in the return channel at 8 atthe speed that the drum will have at that time. This speed will be chosen so that the shuttle will arrive on the drum of ejection at the same time point 11, as if the shuttle had not been slowed down (line 17). At this time the shuttle is carried by the ejection drum and arrives each time at the entrance of the shed at the same moment and at the same speed, and unalfected by slowing down of the shuttle in the preceding shed. When the shuttle arrives on the reception drum between the two extreme values, the shuttle will be ejected between 7 and 8 at a speed varying constantly between 7 and 8 so that the line of the movement of the shuttle will always be directed toward 11.

The variation of speed is given by the driving mechanism and is reproduced, always the same at each turn.

FIGURE 2 shows the variation of the speed of the re ception drum in function of time. W represents its mean speed and B and R its speed at points 7 and 8. The shaded surface represents a length, the significance of which will be made clear in the description of the mechanism necessary to obtain this swinging speed.

One can equally provide the ejection drum with a variable speed so that the shuttle, ejected at slightly different times, will be directed at point 4, slightly faster when the shuttle is travelling below its desired speed, and slightly slower when the shuttle is travelling too fast. One obtains in this manner a shuttle movement operating the speed corrections automatically to remain in a mean cycle.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, there is illustrated therein a continuous closed circuit for the shuttle of a weaving loom designated 26. This closed circuit is somewhat similar in configuration as that shown in US. Patent 2,738,810, and US. Patent 2,493,515. The shuttle carrying means is provided with two laterally spaced drums 28 and 30, with the drum 28 being the ejection drum and the drum 30 being the reception drum. The drums are provided with peripheral recesses 32 and 34, respectively, for receiving flexible bands or belts therein.

Referring to FIGURE 3, it will be noted that the drum 28 is provided with three spaced pulleys 36, 38 and 40, while the drum 30 is provided with similar pulleys 42, 44 and 46. It will be noted that two of the pulleys 38-40 and 4446 are disposed inwardly to the middle of the drums 2S and 30, while the third pulley is disposed outwardly from the drum so that the pulleys for each of the drums are in a triangular configuration. The endless belt 48 is carried by the pulleys 36, 40 and 38, while the endless belt 50 is carried by the pulleys 42, 44 and 46 of the drum 30.

The respective endless belts 48 and 50 are adapted to fr-ictionally engage the shuttles 52 and 54.

The drums 28 and 30 are provided with peripheral recesses 32 and 34 receiving the shuttle. The depth of the recesses is slightly lower than the height of the shuttle in such a way that this shuttle is tightened into the bottom of the recesses by the tension of the belt of the drum.

With respect to the ejection drum 28, it will be noted that the shuttle 52 comes through the channel 56 in one side of the drum and is ejected from the other side of the shed 57 which is disposed between the ejection drum 28 and the reception drum 30. The shuttle arrives on the reception drum 30 with more or less delay according to the resistance which it will have to overcome through the shed.

The shuttle will be driven on the half circumference of this reception drum 30 to be ejected in the channel 56, in which it will circulate in free motion up to the ejection drum 28.

In accordance to FIGURE 1, if the shuttle annives with advance on the drum 30, it will arrive at its ejection point in the channel 56 when this drum 30 will have a smaller speed than the average speed. If, on the other hand, the shuttle arrives with delay on the drum 30, it will arrive at its eject-ion point in the channel 56 a little later, when this drum 30 will increase its speed, which then will be greater than the average speed. These different speeds will correct the shifting of the shuttle which will arrive on the ejection drum 28 always at the same time, i.e., in synchronisrn with the loom.

When the shuttle passes through the shed 57 the speed of the shuttle may be decreased because of the tension of the weft thread and the frictional engagement with the warp threads. When the shuttle again passes into contact with the drum 30, the speed of the drum 30 in respect to its swinging movement is such that it can compensate the loss of speed, respectively loss of time, of the shuttle through the shed. Referring to FIGURE 4, the drum 28 is fixed to a shaft upon which is mounted a well-known type of brake 62. The shaft 60 further has disposed thereon two spaced flywheels or pulley members 64 and 66. The flywheels or pulleys 64 and 66 are freely rotatable on the shaft 60. Disposed between the shafts is a well known type of clutch 68 adapted to engage the flywheels 64 and 66 so as to rotate the flywheels with the shaft 60. The flywheels 64 and 66 are driven by endless belts 70 and 72 connected to the motor coupling 74 of an electric motor 76. The shaft 60 is further provided with a bevel gear drive member 78 that meshes with a bevel gear 80 of the main shaft 82 of the weaving loom. The main shaft 82 of the weaving loom is provided with earns 84 and 86 which activate the movement of the slay beating the Weft thread in the fabric, and Patent 2,493,515 illustrates a conventional and well-known loom, so that it is not necessary to describe it in detail in the present invention.

The opposite end of the main shaft 82 is provided with a bevel gear 88 which in turn meshes with a gear 99 disposed on a shaft 92. The shaft 92 is provided with an elliptical gear 96 which meshes with another elliptical gear 98 on a shaft 100 extending parallel to the shaft 92. The shaft 100 is fixed to rotate the drum 30, while the lower end of the shaft 60 is keyed to the drum 28 so as to drive it. Thus, the provision of the two elliptical gears 96 and 98 on their respective shafts provides a structure which gives the drum 30 a variable peripheral speed or drives it at a pre-determined desired variable speed. It is to be noted that the ratio of the number of revolutions of the variable speed drum 30 and of the main shaft 82 is in the ratio of a whole number, so that variations of speed are always at the same point and synchronized with the movement of the other mechanisms of the Weaving loom.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 the main slay drive shaft 102 is provided with the usual freely rotatable pulleys 104 and 106 disposed between a conventional clutch 108 fixed to the shaft 102 and adapted to engage the pulleys 106 and 104 driven from an electric motor so as to drive the shaft 102. The shaft 102 is provided with a bevel gear 108 that meshes with another bevel gear 110 on a shaft 112. The shaft is supported in ball bearings at its upper and lower ends 114 and 116, respectively, and has a drive gear 118 fixed thereto and meshing with a gear 120 on a stub shaft 122. The stub shaft 122 is journalled in bearings 124 and 126 and has fixed on its lower end a gear 130 which meshes with the internal teeth of a ring gear 132. The ring gear 132 is fixed by any suitable means to a shuttle carrying drum 134 that carries a shuttle 136 thereon.

The drum 134 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 112 by a ball bearing 136. The stub shaft 122 is thus connected through the gears 120 and 130 to rotate the ring gear 132 and the drum 134 about the shaft 112.

The stub shaft bearings 124 and 126 are carried in a support member 138 mounted in a ball bearing 140 on the shaft 112.

A cam 142 is fixed to a disk member 144 keyed to the shaft 112. A small follower wheel 146 is biased to contact the surface of the cam 142 by any suitable means. The follower 146 is fixed to the end of a lever 148. The lever 148 is a double lever as best seen in FIGURE 5 and rotates around the fixed shaft 150. The lever 148 carries a crank arm 152 with its lower branch or fork 154, which crank arm gives a to and fro or reciprocating movement to the support member 138. If desired, there can be provided a double cam which will transmit move ment to the support in both directions. The disk 144 upon which the cam 142 is fused has been provided to facilitate the timing of the position of the cam. Referring to FIGURE 2, one can determine the form of cam desired by integrating the curve of the desired speeds, the complete cycle of movement being given by the shaded surface keeping in mind the ratio of transmission.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 5 and 6, the force that holds the shuttle 136 upon the drum 134 is created by a magnetic field provided by the magnet 154 disposed in the drum 134. It is recommended the machine be stopped in the position corresponding to point 11 (or to point 10) of the diagram, FIGURE 1. More exactly, the beginning of the time of breakage of the machine must correspond to this point 11. It will be necessary therefore to brake the machine as rapidly as possible. When the machine is started, its speed must already be sufficient so that when the shuttle leaves the ejection drum it can reach the reception drum. There always remains the possibility of setting back the machine a predetermined value before it is started. In the case when the shuttle is held upon the carrying drums by a magnetic force, one can set back the machine so that the shuttle is held on the drum for almost one rotation before being ejected.

It is clear that the system proposed for the movement of the shuttle could be used for working two fabrics at the same time, the sheds being located on the two rectilinear parts of the circuit. One will then have a circuit of the shuttle in a horizontal plane and the fabric will be made from bottom to top or vice versa.

What is claimed is:

1. A closed circuit path of travel for a shuttle of a weaving machine comprising a first shuttle carrying drum and a second shuttle carrying drum laterally spaced from said first drum, two shuttle carrying channels extending between said drums and disposed in alignment with the periphery of said drums for passing said shuttle between said drums, and means for driving said first drum at a constant speed, and other means for driving said second drum at varying predetermined speeds to control the speed of said shuttle, said means for driving said first drum consisting of a first friction belt on said drum and a. complementary endless belt carried by spaced pulley members, said belts being disposed to permit a shuttle passing said drum to be frictionally engaged between said belts, and said other means for driving said second drum at varying speeds consisting of eccentric gear means operatively connected to said first drive means to be driven thereby and operatively connected to said second drum to drive said second drum.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said pulley members consist of three spaced pulley, with two pulleys spaced adjacent opposite sides of said drums, and a third pulley spaced to form a triangular configuration with respect to said two pulleys.

3. A variable drive means for the drum of a shuttle carrying member comprising two parallel shafts, an eccentric gear disposed on each shaft and meshing with each other, a shuttle drum fixed for rotation with one of said shafts, and bevel gear means operatively connected to the other shaft for rotation of it and said drum.

4. A variable drive means for a shuttle carrying drum, comprising a drive shaft, a shuttle drum rotatably mounted on said shaft, 2. ring gear with internal teeth fixed to said drum for rotation of the drum, a stationary support rotatably carried by said shaft, a stub shaft rotatably carried by said support, a gear fixed on each end of said stub shaft, one stub gear disposed to mesh with said teeth of said ring gear, a drive gear fixed to said drive shaft, the other stub gear disposed to mesh with said drive gear to be driven thereby, a double branch lever, a fixed shaft, said double lever pivotally mounted on said fixed shaft, one branch of said lever having a crank arm thereon connected to said support, another branch of said lever having a follower thereon, a cam disposed on said drive shaft and said follower being positioned to contact its surface, whereby a reciprocating motion to and fro is transmitted to said support.

5. The drive means of claim 4 wherein said drum con- 7 sists of spaced apart disks, and a magnet is sandwiched between said disks.

6. The drive means of claim 4 wherein said double branch lever is substantially U-shaped.

7. The drive means of claim 4 wherein said cam is eccentric.

8. A variable drive means for a shuttle carrying drum comprising a drive shaft, a shuttle drum rotatably mounted on said drive shaft, a swinging support rotatably mounted on said drive shaft, a stub shaft rotatably mounted on said swinging Support, a gear fixed on each end of said stub shaft, one of these gears disposed to mesh with a gear fixed on said drive shaft and the other disposed to mesh with a gear fixed on said drum, said swinging support being actuated by a cam and giving said drum a swinging motion.

9. A variable drive means of claim 8 wherein a double branch lever pivotably mounted on a fixed shaft one branch of said lever having a connecting rod thereon connected to the swinging support, another branch of said lever having a follower being positioned to contact the surface of the cam whereby a to and fro reciprocating motion is transmitted to the swinging support.

10. A variable drive means of claim 9 wherein the cam is disposed on the drive shaft and is fixed to a disk member which is keyed to this drive shaft.

11. A variable drive means of a claim 8 wherein the swinging support is provided with a follower positioned to contact the surface of the cam, this cam being driven on a shaft disposed outside said drive shaft.

12. The method of continuously conveying a gripper shuttle in a loom comprising circulating said gripper shuttle without any stop in a closed circuit and driving said gripper shuttle positively and periodically at two points at pre-determined speeds to synchronize the continuous cycle of the gripper shuttle with a cycle of a weaving machine, one of said speeds being of greater magnitude than the other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,738,810 3/1956 Varkonyi et a1. 139-18 FOREIGN PATENTS 648,576 8/1937 Germany.

HENRY S. JAUDON, Primary Examiner.

MERVIN STEIN, Assistant Examiner. 

